Boost for farmers as Irish beef returns to Chinese shelves

Irish beef is back on Chinese shelves after its suspension over an isolated case of atypical BSE in May 2020 was lifted in January.

Beef access was granted to Ireland by China in 2018, and by 2019 exports had reached almost €40 million, the last full year of trade.

In 2020, beef exports were on track to far exceed 2019 levels, with January to May figures having more than doubled compared to the same period in the previous year.

The lifting of the suspension by the General Administration of Customs of China has paved the way for an extensive relaunch and promotional campaign by Bord Bia’s Shanghai office for the coming months.

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A container of Irish beef supplied by Larry Goodman-owned food processor ABP arrived into the port of Shanghai on Monday.

Speaking from Shanghai, Bord Bia’s China manager Conor O’Sullivan said: “We are delighted to welcome Irish beef back into the Chinese market after a suspension of almost three years.

“Bord Bia is now engaged in an Irish beef relaunch campaign focusing on trade seminars, chef demonstrations, and media engagement.

“Over the next month, we will be exhibiting at two major international meat trade shows in China – the China International Meat Industry Exhibition and SIAL China in May – to showcase Irish beef to Chinese buyers.

“After first entering in 2018, Ireland quickly established a reputation as a leading supplier of grass-fed beef in China. We had a lot of success building market share into higher value food service and retail channels. We are eager to regain that significant momentum in China.”

Food service remains the primary channel for beef consumption in China, with frozen beef making up an estimated 60 per cent of the total consumption.

Evelyn Chiang, Bord Bia’s insight and planning specialist for Asia, said a key trend emerging in the food service sector is the preference for chains of restaurants to use imported beef.

“Chinese consumers highly value the quality of their food ingredients and the quality of imported beef is highly regarded, presenting a significant opportunity for Irish beef suppliers,” she said.

“Hot-pot restaurants, steakhouses and barbecue restaurants are all seeking high-quality and reliable imported beef, which is great news for Irish companies in the market.

“This rise of ecommerce and specialised stores is part of the changing consumption patterns in China’s expanding middle class, which puts a premium on health and taste.

“This trend is an excellent fit for Ireland’s grass-fed, sustainably produced beef.”

In December 2022, Bord Bia launched a three-year €1.3 million EU beef and lamb promotion to promote the safety, sustainability, and natural values of beef and lamb to Chinese consumers and customers.

This campaign will intensify in the months ahead and run until May 2024, tying in with the Department of Agriculture’s ministerial trade mission to China in May.

Bord Bia will this month welcome 15 Chinese government representatives to Ireland for a two-week “knowledge transfer programme” on an itinerary involving visits to Irish farms and processors as part of the EU pork and poultry campaign.